Device to aid turning of steering wheels



Jan. 10, 1939. J. 1 BARR DEVICE TO AID TURNING OF STEERING WHEELS FiledMay '24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l @wmp Jan. 1o, 1939. J, BARR 2,143,183

DEVICE To AID EUENING 0E STEERING wEEEEs Filed May 24, 19:54 2sheets-snee: 2

/ff I f Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE. TOAID TURNING F STEERING WHEELS 13 Claims.

My invention relates to means for facilitating the steering of cars andin particular to means for facilitating the turning of steering wheelsin cramped quarters, such as in parking and unparking cars in confinedspaces.

It is an object of the invention to facilitate the turning of thesteering wheels of an automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, durablemechanism which is easily repaired and replaced and in which the powerfor relieving the weight at least in part on at least one of thesteering wheels may be derived either through the intake manifold of` aninternal combustion engine or from a moving part of the engine whichdrives the vehicle.

In one form of my device I employ a system which is operated from theintake manifold of the engine. In this particular form as shown, I havethe intake manifold connected to a mechanism which will increase thepower which may be applied tothe lift mechanism. In this form of device,I connect the intake manifold to a cylinder in which there is a movingpiston. This `cylinder is relatively large and the piston is causedtomove `under the pressure differential produced through connecting oneside of the piston to the intake manifold. This movement of the pistonis used to compress at high pressure a iluid such as oil which in turnis used to operate another piston which is attached to the compressionelement of the lift mechanism.

In `another form of device which I have shown, I use a rotating part ofthe engine such as the fly wheel of the generator, though any othersuitable moving part could be employed as the source of power. In theform shown I haveemployed a belt which ts over the y wheel and thegenerator pulley ci this engine, and this belt is used to rotate themoving parts of a rotary pressure pump which sends uid under highpressure to the cylinder which operates the compression element of thedevice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of my device as applied to the frontwheels of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is` a detail view partly in section taken through thelongitudinal axis of the compression element and its operating cylinder;

Fig. 3 is an end View of the mechanism which delivers the oil under highpressure to the lift mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view taken through the longitudinal axis of the mechanismshown in Fig. 3;

lFig. 5 is a sectional. View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the operating valve for controlling theoperation of the device, the view being shown partly in section;`

Fig. S is a side elevation of another form of my device;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken through the rotary pump of themodification of Fig. 8, the view being along the line 9-9 of Fig. 11,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a view taken along line IIl-Il'lof Fig. 9, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a View taken along line Il-II of Fig. 9, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is an exploded view taken along the longitudinal axis of thecompression element and its operating cylinder.

Referring to the drawings I have shown an automobile frame I, theautomobile being provided with a licor board 2 and` a dash 3. Passingthrough the oor board 2 is a steering post 4. Mounted on the frame I isan internal combustion engine 5 which has an intake manifold 6. A frontaxle 'I is carried by springs 8 on the frame I. i

Connected to the intake manifold 6 is a pipe 9 which communicates with avalve structure II. From the other side of the valve structure Il passesa pipe I2 which, through a fluidtight itting I3, communicates with theinterior of a cylinder I4. The cylinder I4 is provided with a cylinderhead I5 which may be attached to the cylinder I4 by 'screws I6. Thecylinderhead IE is provided with an extended central portion Il whichhas a port I8 opening to the atmosphere. Within the cylinder is a pistonwhich 1 have designated generally by numeral I9. This piston is of theusual fluid type construction and attached to this piston through theusual attaching means, indicated by numeral 20, is a` piston rod I2.

The other end of the cylinder I4 is provided with an annular hollowextended portion 22 which has a flange 23. To the flange 23 is bolted bymeans of bolts 24 a flange 25 of a smaller cylin- Y der element 25.Suitablel packing 21 may be inserted between the ange elements 23 and 25to make a fluid tight joint. 'I'he piston rod 2| is adapted to closely tinto the cylinder26. The piston rod 2| passes through a suitable packinggland 28, which it is not necessary to describe in detail. Surroundingthe piston rod 2l isla helical compression spring 29 which tends to holdthe piston I9 in the position shown in Fig. 4. Surrounding the cylinder26 is a reservoir 3l provided with an apertured lling tap 32. Thisreservoir 3l is provided with an end closure member 33. Fluid tightconnections may be made where the reservoir contacts adjacent structure,as is plainly apparent in Fig. 4.

The cylinder 26 is formed with a valve head construction which comprisesa central aperture 34, a conical valve seat and port 36 communicatingdirectly therewith, and a port 31. Against the conical seat 35 isadapted to bear a ball 38 which is pressed downward by a spring 39 heldin place by means of a screw tap 4l. The valve head is adapted to bescrewed as indicated at 42 into the closure 33 of the reservoir 3i. Aflexible pipe 43 is attached by means of siutable coupling 44 to thevalve head, as is plainly shown in Fig. 4.

The valve Il before referred to comprises a fitting having ports 45 and46. The pipe 9 through a suitable connection indicated generally bynumeral 41 communicates with port 45 and the pipe l2 through a suitablesimilar fitting connection which is indicated generally by numeral 48communicates with port 46. The Valve Il is provided with extensions 49and 5| and a central aperture in these extensions, indicated by numeral52. A screw tap 53 closes the extension at one side and through thescrew tap 53 is adapted to slide Valve stem 54.

On the valve stem 54 are located fluid tight sliding members 55 and 56.Communicating with aperture 52 is a port 56' which communicates with theatmosphere. To the valve stem 54 is pivoted at 51 an operating rod 58.To the operating rod is attached collar 59 to which is also attached atension spring 68 that is attached, as indicated at 6|, to the valve Il.

The operating rod 58 is pivotally attached at 62 to a bell crank lever63 which is pivoted at 64 and which has one arm provided with a footpedal 65. The arm that carries foot pedal 65 ts through aperture 66 inthe floor board 2 of the car. By pressing down on foot pedal 65operating rod 58 will be pulled against the tension of spring 6E) topermit communication between port 45 and port 46. In this position port56 is closed. Upon release of the foot pedal the spring 69 positions theparts as indicated in Fig. '7 and closes communication between port 45and 46. Port 46, however, is in communication with the atmospherethrough port 56.

The lift mechanism comprises a compression element 61 which has a femalemember 68 internally screw threaded and a male member 69 externallyscrew threaded. A lock nut 'H is adapted to hold the male and femalemembers in xed relationship when the length of the compression elementhas once been adjusted. The male member carries a ball 12 at its endwhich ts within a socket formed within foot piece 13. A holding plate 14ts over the top of the ball 12 and prevents its egress from the socketand foot piece. The plate 14 is held in place by means of screws 15.

The female member 68 is provided with an extension 16 which carries aball 11 which ts within a socket formed in a fitting 18 that may beintegrally formed with piston 19.

The tting member 18 is provided with a groove or aperture 8| permittingthe compression element to be moved upward into the dotted line positionindicated in Fig. 1. A retaining brad 82 holds the ball 11 in positionand is itself held in place by means of screws 83.

The piston 19 is provided with a piston head assembly which I haveindicated generally by numeral 84. This is of the usual fluid tighttype. 'I'he piston head 84 is adapted to fit in a cylinder 85 to whichis screw threaded cylinder head 86. The cylinder head 86 is held bymeans of clamping member 81 to the axle 1. The cylinder 85 is providedwith a head fitting 88 at its other end, which is screwed onto theexterior wall of the cylinder 85 and which forms a fluid tightconn-ection with cylinder wall 85. Packing 89 may be employed to insurea fluid tight fit. In this cylinder head construction 88 there isprovided a port 90 communicating with the interior of the cylinder andan extension 9| to which is adapted to be attached the iiexible pipe 43.The cylinder head construction 88 is adapted to t under a spring padconstruction 92 which is carried by axle 1. This construction is adaptedto rmly hold the cylinder in place.

Attached to the compression element by means of a pivoted iitting 93 isa Bowden wire 94 which passes through a sheath 95 and is adapted to bereeled up by means of a reel construction 96 that may be located onsteering post 4. An antirattle spring 91 is adapted to bear against thefoot of the compression element when it is in its raised position asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby preventing rattling orundue movement of the parts. The spring 91 may be bifurcated at its endand t over the male portion 69 of the compression element 61. The sheath95 for Bowden wire 94 may be mounted on a suitable tting 98 which iscarried by the anti-rattle spring 91.

In operation the Bowden wire is unreeled from its up position to permitthe compression element 61 to fall into the position indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1. When the device is not in use, compression element 61occupies the other position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, andBowden wire 94 is reeled up tight so that the foot of the compressionelement bears rmly against anti-rattle spring 91. The anti-rattle spring91 can be carried on the spring pad which is formed on axle 1 asindicated in Fig. 2.

Let us assume that the compression element has dropped to the saidposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, the operator steps on footpedal 65, causing parts of the valve mechanism II to move so thatcommunication between ports 45 and 46 is established, thereby throwingpipe I2 into communication with intake manifold 6. 'I'his causes suctionon piston head i 9 in cylinder I4. 'Ihat is to say, atmosphere pressureentering the cylinder through port I 8 will force the piston head I9 tothe left with the parts viewed from the position in which Fig. 4 istaken. This drives piston 2| to the left and compresses uid, oil in thiscase, in the cylinder 26.

Compressed oil is ejected through port 31 to iiexible pipe 43 where itpasses downwardly, entering cylinder 85 and pressing downwardly on thepiston head 84 in that cylinder, thereby compressing a spring 99 in thatcylinder. This causes the compression element to be moved downwardlyinto contact with the roadbed, then to relieve the weight at least inpart on at least one of the steering wheels of the vehicle. This reliefof weight as indicated permits the steering wheels to be more readilyturned which is of advantage in parking or unparkng cars in connedspaces.

Upon release of foot pedal 65 the parts in the valve will assume theposition shown in Fig. '1 Aand thepressure of Athe spring in thecylinder for the compression element as well as the weight of the carwill force the oil from that cylinder back into cylinder 26. The spring29 in the vacuum cylinder I4 also aids in moving the parts into theposition shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, air entering through pipe I2which is drawn from the atmosphere through port 56. The ball valve 35will permit replacement of any oil necessary to fill cylinder 25.

The reel on the steering post may then be brought into action to raisethe compression element to the up position shown in dotted lines in Fig.1.

It is to be noted that the foot of the compression element isuniversally connected to the compression element and that thecompression element itself is universally connected to its piston. Thisis of advantage in permitting adjustment to strain during the turning ofthe wheels, and in allowing the vehicle to be driven off the devicewithout injury to either the device or the vehicle when the device isbeing used.

The various motions which may be compensated for during the turning ofthe steering wheels are fully set forth in my copending applicationSerial No. 724,168, filed May 5, 1934.

Referring to Fig. 8, I have shown a modicaltion of the device. In thisform of device the cylvinder 85 is somewhat differently mounted on theaxle 1. The head fitting 53 is provided with a bolt extension IGI andthe cylinder head 86 at the other end is provided with a bolt extension|92. A holding plate |03 is held in place by means of nuts |04 on eitherend of the extensions ||l| and |02. In this form the anti-rattle spring91 is mounted directly by some suitable attaching means |95 on thecylinder head 88. There is provided a tting |96 which is screwed intothe top of the cylinder head 88 and to which is attached the flexiblepipe 43.

In the `drawings I have shown the motor 5 provided with a fan |91 whichcarries a fan pulley |08. The fan pulley is driven by belt |09 whichpasses down over pulley and is carried by a crank shaft. The belt |99also ts over pulley I |2 which is adapted to drive a generator ||3. Thepulley |2 has an extension H4 over which ts a belt H5 that passes overanother pulley I I E which is mounted on a shaft I i 8, of a rotarypump.

The rotary pump comprises a casing ||9 which has a reservoir |23. Thecasing is adapted to be attached as indicated at |2| to some suitableyportion of the motor or frame. Thereservoir |29 is provided with afilling tap |29 through which oil may be introduced into the reservoir.The bottorn of the reservoir I 2|? communicates with inlet port |22(se-e Fig. 10) that passes into a chamber containing rotary pump gears.There is one rotary pump gear |23 mounted on the shaft IIS and keyedthereto, and another rotary pump gear |24 mounted on a shaft |25. Thegear |24 meshes with gear |23. Both gears turn in a gear casing |26formed in the casing.

This type of rotary gear pump is well known in the art. The teeth of thegears are so arranged that oil is picked up by gear |23 between theteeth when the shaft I I8 is rotated to move the gear as indicated bythe arrows to the right in Fig. 9, i. e.. countercleckwise. The oilbetween teeth of the gears is moved around and when the-teeth of thegear |23 mesh with the teeth of gear |24, the oil is squeezed outbetween them. Gear |24 turns in a clockwise direction and the oil ispicked up between theteeth and squirted out between the teeth of gears|24 and |23.

The oil escapes from chamber |26 through an outlet port I 21 into valvechamber |28 thence into a port I 29 which communicates with a fitting|39 to which is attached the flexible tubing 43. The valve chamber |28has a sliding valve arrangement (see Fig. 11) comprising a stem I3|carrying sliding heads I 32 and |33. Helical spring I 34 tends to holdthe parts in the position shown in Fig. l1. f Through a suitable fluidtight connection |36 passes a reduced portion |31 of the valve stem I3|. Pivoted at |38 (see Fig. 8) on this reduced portion |31 of valvestem |36 is an operating rod |39 which is pivoted at |4| to one arm of abell crank lever |42 which is pivoted at |43 on some suitable portion ofthe motor or car. The bell crank lever |43 is provided with an armwhich' passes through an aperture |44 in the hoor board 2 of the car andwhich carries afoot pedal |45.

Entering the valve chamber |28 is a return port |46 which communicateswith a chamber |41 that is provided with a port |48 that communicateswith reservoir I 2U. In chamber |41 is a port |49 having a conical seatprovided above it against which bears ball |59 that is downwardlypressed by means of spring |5| which is held in place by adjusting screwplug |52. Port |49 communicates with outlet port |21.

With the parts in inoperative position with the compression element S1in the raised position and foot pedal |45 in the position shown in Fig.8, gears |23 and |24 feed oil from the chamber |26 through outlet port|21 into valve chamber |28,

whence the oil idles through return port |46 into chamber |41 andthrough port |48 back into reservoir |29, and thence again through inletport |22 to repeat the cycle.

Let us assume, however. that the operator has lowered the compressionelement 61 into the position shown in 8 so that its foot rests againstthe ground. The operator steps on pedal |45 which pulls en rod |49 andmoves the valve stem |3| into a raised position against the tension ofspring |34. This causes valve member |33 to cover return port |45. Thefluid then from the gear chamber |23 passes through the port |29 intoflexible tube 43 and pushes the piston 84 into a lower position torelieve the weight at least in part on at least one of the steeringwheels of the car. When the piston 94 has reached the down positionagainst the tension of spring 99, oil will then be forced by the ball|59 at the top of port |49 and can pass through port |48 back intoreservoir |20.

By suitably regulating the tension of spring |5I through adjustment ofscrew tap |52 the amount of pressure necessary to raise ball |50 fromthe conical seat can be regulated, so that sucient pressure can begenerated to permit ready operation of the device to relieve the weightas desired, yet when pressure is too high oil will pass from the intaketo the output side of the pump past ball |59.

Upon release of pressure on pedal |45 the spring |34 pulls the valvestem |3| and its assooiated parts again into the position shown in Fig.ll, and oil is forced by reason of the Weight of the car and the tensionof spring 99 in cylinder back through port |29 into valve chamber |28.This oil, together with the oil which is idling through the pump canreturn through port `|48 into chamber |41 and through port |48 back intoreservoir |20. The operatorcan thenreelup the compression element 61 toits position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself tothe precise details of construction herein set forth, by way ofillustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may bemade therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from thespirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a pump driven from a movingpart of a motor to furnish a source of fluid under pressure, and a liftmechanism operated by fluid from the pump to relieve the weight at leastin part on at least one of the steering wheels of a vehicle, comprisinga cylinder adapted to receive the fluid under pressure, a piston in thecylinder, a compression element and support means carried by the pistonand permitting universal movement of the top of the compression element.

2. In an apparatus of the class described for a motor driven vehiclehaving steering wheels, a rotary pump driven from a moving part of themotor to furnish a source of fluid under pressure, and a lift mechanismoperated by fluid from the rotary pump to relieve the weight at least inpart on at least one of the steering wheels of the vehicle, comprising acylinder adapted to receive the iiuid under pressure, a piston in thecylinder, a compression element and support means carried by the pistonand permitting universal movement of the top of the compression element.

3. In an apparatus of the character described for a motor driven Vehiclehaving steering wheels and a generator, a rotary pump to furnish asource of fluid under pressure, means connecting a moving part of thegenerator and the pump to operate the pump and a lift mechanism operatedby fluid from the pump to relieve the weight at least in part on atleast one of the steering wheels of the vehicle, comprising a cylinderadapted to receive the fluid under pressure, a piston in the cylinder, acompression element, and support means carried by the piston andpermitting universal movement of the top of the compression element.

4. In an apparatus of the character described a compression element, acylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted to move in thecylinder, a pump driven from a moving part of the motor to furnish fluidunder pressure to operate the piston, support means carried by thepiston and permitting universal movement of the top of the compressionelement.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a compressionelement, a cylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted tomove in the cylinder a universal connection between the element and thepiston, a rotary pump driven from a moving part of the motor to furnishfluid under pressure to operate the piston, and means permitting idlingof the fluid in the pump when the compression element is in itsdownwardly eX- tended position.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a compressionelement, a piston for the compression element adapted to move in thecylinder a universal connection between the element and the piston, arotary pump, means connecting a moving part of a generator to the pumpto operate the pump means connecting the pump, to the'cylinder torelieve the weight at least in part on at least one of the steeringwheels of the vehicle, and means permitting idling of the uid in thepump when the compression element in its downwardly extended position.

'7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a compressionelement, a cylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted tomove in the cylinder, a universal connection between the element and thepiston, a pump driven from a moving part of a motor to furnish fluidunder pressure to operate the piston, spring means tending to return thepiston to an initial position, means to drop the compression elementinto operative position, and means to permit idling of the fluid in thepump when the compression element is in its raised inoperative position.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a compressionelement, a cylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted tomove in the cylinder, a universal connection between the element and thepiston, a rotary pump driven from a rotating part of a motor to furnishiluid underpressureto operatethe piston, spring means tending to returnthe piston to an initial position, means to drop the compression elementinto its operative position, and means to permit idling of the uid inthe pump when the compression element is raised into its inoperativeposition.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a compressionelement, a cylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted tomove in the cylinder, a universal connection between the element and thepiston, a rotary pump, means connecting a moving part of the generatorto the pump to operate the pump, means connecting a rotary pump and thecylinder, spring means tending to return the piston to an initialposition, means to drop the compression element into its operativeposition, and means to permit idling of the uid in the pump when thecompression element is raised into its inoperative position.

l0. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a compressionelement, a cylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted tomove in the cylinder a universal connection between the element and thepiston, a pump driven from a moving part of the motor to furnish uidunder pressure to operate the piston, means to drop the compressionelement to operative position, valve means to permit idling of the uidin the pump when the compression element is raised into its inoperativeposition, and valve means permitting idling of the fluid in the pumpwhen the compression element is in its downwardly extended position.

11. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a compressionelement, a cylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted tomove in the cylinder a universal connection between the element and thepiston, a pump driven from a moving part of the motor to furnish fluidunder pressure to operate a piston, valve means permitting idling of thefluid in the pump when the compression element is in its downwardlyextended position, and means to lock the uid in the cylinder when thevcompression element is in its fully extended position.

12. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a compressionelement, a cylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted tomove in the cylinder a universal connection between the element and thepiston, a pump driven from a moving part of a motor to furnish uid underpressure to operate the piston, spring means tending to return thepiston to an initial position,

means to drop the compression element into operative position, valvemeans to lock the fluid in the cylinder when the compression element isin its fully extended downward position, and

` means to permit idling of the uid in the pump when the compressionelement is raised into its Vinoperative position.

13. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a compressionelement, a cylinder, a piston for the compression element adapted tomove in the cylinder a universal connection between the element and thepiston, a rotary pump driven from a moving part of the motor to furnishfluid

